The Hike

I recently went on a hiking trip with my friends and let’s just say it was a good experience but also a little struggle- just being honest. Although after the trip I learned there were valuable lessons on the journey.

Starting off everything seemed to be going smooth but then things took a turn. There were numerous hills along the way that made the exercise so much more strenuous. The only things that were helping me was me telling myself, “I can do all things through Christ” and of course my bottle of Gatorade.

I found myself having to take a lot of breaks . When I say a lot, I mean almost every 5-10 minutes. I am not ashamed! There were many times I wanted to give up because my feet started to feel like they were going to give out and my energy was decreasing. I even wanted to just sit and wait for the other girls to go to the top and come back down to meet me. There were thoughts of “I don’t care if I get to the top“, “I’ve seen it before, it won’t be anything new”, but I quickly turned those doubtful feelings into determination. I started to tell myself, “If I can just get to the steps then I’m good to go.” On the hike are a set of steps that will take you all the way to the top of the mountain. Once getting to the steps you have completed your journey. However the steps seemed so far away and the hills kept getting steeper and steeper. Needless to say after a few more rest breaks and pep talks I made it to the top and the accomplishment felt so rewarding. I was proud of myself and I know God was too.

In our spiritual journey there will be many hills that you will have to conquer. It’s with determination and faith that you will overcome the hurdles. On the journey you may even have to stop and regroup with God when times get too tough. It doesn’t matter how many times you have to sit with yourself, cry out or talk to God, reread the same scriptures, etc. - you do what it takes  to press on. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭14). You know you have an end goal and it needs to be met. When we get stumped it’s easy to give up or stay in our despair. However we can’t get complacent - we try to stay in comfortable situations because we don’t want to have to face the task at hand. We don’t want to risk the possibility of things getting out of our control. I wanted to get complacent by just sitting and waiting for the girls to finish, but that’s not what I came on the hike to do. So if that means me walking slower than the group, then I just have to press my way! God has us on a mission and it’s up to us if we complete it or not . God knows exactly what we can handle- we are all on different paths with different stories.

During the hike we accidentally made a wrong turn, so yes that hindered us a little, but we quickly figured out the issue. However it’s the same with our journey. There may be times where you stray off the path, but you can guarantee that God will place you back on the right path. Honestly, us straying off the path has everything to do with us. Whether it’s sin, not being responsible or accountable for actions, getting involved with the wrong crowd or just simply not building your relationship with God the way you should- it could be anything- the smallest thing could set you off, if you allow it. But as a true child of God you will be well aware of getting off course. It will be evident that something has shifted and you should want to do whatever it takes to get back. You’ll soon find that God was waiting the entire time on you with open arms. It was Him the whole time giving you the grace, strength and wisdom you needed to find your way back.

As I stated earlier, there are a set of steps you have to climb right before getting to the top of the mountain. So I mentally prepared for the steps because I had did this hike before so I knew what to expect. So as I approached the end I saw the steps and immediately said, “These steps look different,” then it clicked that we had actually took a different route than before. However I was so grateful because it wasn’t as many steps as the other route! Look at God! I climbed the steps and suddenly relief overcame me. No matter how much we try to prepare for certain situations to happen, we never truly know how they will turn out. Only God knows our future. I was so anxious about getting to these steps, but once I got there, it was literally a breeze! I thought I was going to have to go through a fire but God quenched the flame. He goes before us in all situations. “Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not your's, but God's.” (‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭20‬:‭15‬). He can work things out before you even know it. This alone provides you peace that you can make it. No matter what the hike of your life details, it’s all worth it at the end. Don’t you want to hear those words, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭23)

If you take trust and faith with you there will be many places you’ll go and things you’ll see- “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, Neither have entered into the heart of man, The things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬). You will have all God has for you and the view at the top will be so much more rewarding & breathtaking.

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”